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| View from Allcargo Laxmi: Mundra port active and growing |
.Soon before iron ore discharging was to
complete from Allcargo Laxmi at Kandla, we received instructions to proceed to
Mundra, another Gujarat’s upcoming port, for
loading Bentonite in bulk. No body was pleased to hear that. But work is work
and that is to be done. The reason for the displeasure is the mess; cargo of
Bentonite creates on the ship. The entire vessel gets washed in pale yellow
fine powder’s coating. The cargo is slippery too and is difficult to be washed away.
One whole day is consumed in getting rid of the residue.
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| Allcargo Laxmi loading Bentonite at Mundra |
Bentonite is a kind of
weathered volcanic ash or clay with varied industrial uses. The word Bentonite
takes its name from a place named Fort
Benton in U.S.A.,
where the clay was first discovered and put to use. The clay comes in variety
of forms each with its own unique characteristics. For examples a type swells on coming in contact
with water and is used as a sealant.
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| Weather was fine on this return voyage |
Anyway, we spent about 16 hours amid a cloud of Bentonite dust and
sailed on full tropical marks towards N.Mangalore. The first day was again
characterized by moderate winds and swell but a reprieve came on second day and
weather continued to be fine and pleasant till arrival New.Mangalore.
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| Allcargo Laxmi entering New Mangalore harbour minutes after sun rise |
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